Door retainer



Jan. 31, 1933. J, s gn- 1 85,525

DOOR RETAINER Filed June 14, 1928 Patented Jan. 31, 19 33 UNITED STATES PATET OFFIE JOSEPH J. SEITZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO MITCHELL SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA DOOR RETAINER Application filed June 14,

My invention relates to door retainers of the type in which a lug mounted either upon a door or upon a part of the door frame is adapted to enter the space between opposite- 1y disposed elastic members supported either upon a part of the door frame or upon the door and to be held thereby against relative lateral vibration.

The retainer is of a type widely used as at- 10 tachments for the door structures of automobiles for holding and retaining the door against vibration relatively to the door frame, and usually the elastic members are supported upon a part of the door frame while the tongue or projection referred to is carried by the door.

Specifically, the present structure belongs to that type of retainer in which elastic blocks of suitable material, such as rubber, are supported in spaced relation with respect to each other and are provided with metal facings with which the lug carried by the door contacts and presses against.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a retainer of novel construction of the character indicated in which the metal facing plates or strips are held securely in position upon the opposing edges or faces of the elastic members in a manner to permit relative slidable movement thereof.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a door retainer of novel construction in which the facing plates or strips for the elastic members are provided with means which cooperate with each other to eflect rectilinear movements thereof when they are caused to move relatively to each other by the entry and removal of the lug, previously referred to, into and from the space between the said facing plates or strips, and to maintain the inner portions of said face plates or strips in spaced relation to each other with the clastic members under compression.

I shall not at this time point out other objects and advantages which are or may be incident to the invention but such additional objects and advantages will be referred to in the detailed description of the invention which follows or will be apparent from such description.

1928. Serial No. 285,233.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its many practical advantages and features fully appreciated reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated one form of mechanical embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in edge elevation of the inside edge of a portion of the door frame of an automobile, the said view also showing in dash and dot lines a portion of the edge of a door upon which is carried the lug referred to above;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the door frame and partly in side elevation thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a view in inside elevation of a '70 portion of the door frame and of a portion of the door retainer, the facing plate for retaining the door retainer in position having been removed.

In the drawing I have shown a portion of a 75 side post 1 of a door frame upon which is motmted a retainer embodying my invention. The said retainer comprises a box 2 of rectangular shape consisting preferably of sheet metal as shown. Elastic blocks 3, preferably of rubber, are located in the opposite end portions of the said box. The inner opposing face portions of the said blocks are spaced from each other as shown. The inner edges or face portions of the said blocks include portions at 4 which are in substantially parallel relation to each other and which are located in planes extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the bottom or front faceof the box. The outer end portions of the said faces are curved and flared outwardly, as indicated at 5, while the inner portions thereof are under-cut and flared outwardly as indicated at 6. The inner edges or opposing faces of the said blocks are protected by means of metal plates or strips 10 which overlie the same. The said plates or strips are shaped to lit the surfaces of the inner opposing faces of the blocks. The outwardly flaring portions 11 0f the plates 10 are 100 provided at their ends with laterally and inwardly extending portions 12 which overlie and are in contact with each other as illustrated. The outer of these laterally and inwardly extending portions 12 rests or presses against the inner surface of the rear side of the box 2 while the inner end of the other of said portions terminates in adjoining relation to the bend connecting said outer por tion and the portion 11 of which said outer portion is an extension. Such relationship operates to maintain the face plates in spaced relation to each other and also to maintain the elastic members under compression. Being under compression their tendency is to ex pand. The outer portions of the facing plates or strips 10 are bent outwardly around the adjoining portions of the elastic blocks 3 and terminate at their outermost ends in inwardly extending projecting portions 15 which engage shoulders 16 provided by cutting out corner portions of the blocks 3 as indicated at 17. The outwardly extending portions of the plates 10 in adjoining relation to the entrance end of the space or opening between the said facing plates are located between the blocks 8 and the adjoining portions of the front wall of the box 2.

In use the box 2 with the blocks 3 and facing plates 10 is mounted within a recess 20 formed in the inner side or face of a post 1, one edge of the recess being open as indicated in the drawing. The box 2, having been placed in said recess, is held therein by means of a face plate 21 of usual construction which is angular in cross section and which coinprises a flange portion 22 having openings therein for the reception of fastening screws 28 which engage the underneath portion of the post 1. Additional fastening screws are shown at 2 The face plate 21 not only se cures and holds the box 2 within the recess 20 but it also partially closes the open side of the said box and retains therein the blocks 3 and the face plates or strips 10 previously referred to. The main body portion of the face plate 21 is provided at its central portion with a transverse slot or opening 25 which is of a width to expose the inner portions of the elastic blocks 3 and also to permit entry of the lug indicated in dash and dot lines at 26 which is carried upon the outer edge of the door.

Normally the opening, which may be referred to as a socket, between the face plates 10, is of less width than the thickness of the lug 26 so that when the latter enters the said socket the said plates are separated from each other and compression of the elastic blocks efiected. The compression of the said blocks causes them to exert forces in opposite directions against the opposite sides of the lug 26 and to thereby hold the door against vibration relatively to the door frame. The result of that, as is known, is to prevent chattering and rattling of the door. When the lug 26 is removed from between the face plates 10 the elastic blocks 3 expand so that the said plates are returned to normal position. The engagement of the outer end portions of the face plates with the edges of the blocks 3, as indicated, and of the inner projecting portions 12 of the said plates with each other, as shown, operates to retain the said plates more securely upon the said blocks. The contact of the portions 12' with each other and of one of the said portions with the inner surface of the adjoining side of the box 2 aids in causing the said plates, in their movements due to the engagement and disengagement of the lug 26 therewith and therefrom, to move in straight or rectilinear paths. As a result of such movement the pressure exerted by the lug 26 as it enters and leaves the opening or space between the said plates is applied in equal force to both of said plates so that one is not subjected to greater friction than the other unless it should happen that said lug should enter the socket or space between the plates 10 with its middle or medial plane located on one side or the other of the corresponding plane of the socket or space between said plates 10. In that event obviously the lug 26 would exert greater pressure upon one of the plates 10 and the elastic member or block covered and protected thereby than upon the other plate and the elastic member or block covered and protected by it. But the latter block being normally under compression and tending to expand, as previously described, it will follow that the plate 10 covering it will be held against the lug 26 and all possibility of chattering prevented.

By mounting the face plates 10 in the manner and in the relation to each other as shown neither plate is subjected to a bending or straining action by the lug 26 in its engagement therewith and disengagement therefrom. It follows, therefore, that there is no possibility of the metal of said plates becoming crystallized or otherwise weakened, nor is it possible for the device to become ineffective unless it should be used until the blocks, which are normally elastic, should lose their elasticity.

By my invention I have provided a door retainer of simple construction which is durable and which is extremely eliicient for the purpose for which it is designed and used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is:

1. A door retainer comprising oppositely disposed elastic blocks, a box within the opposite end portions of which the said blocks are located and retained in spaced relation to each other, and face strips of metal mounted upon the opposing faces of said blocks and held thereon, the inner ends of said plates projecting toward each other and being over lapped and in contact, the outer of said overlapping projecting ends being in contact with the adjoining side of said box.

2. A door retainer comprising oppositely disposed elastic blocks, a box within the opposite end portions of which the said blocks are located and retained in spaced relation to each other and face strips of metal mount- 10 ed upon the opposing faces of said blocks and held thereon, the inner end portions of said strips projecting toward each other and being overlapped and the end of the inner of said projecting end portions terminating in adjoining relation to the point of connection of the outer of said projecting end portions with the strip from which it projects.

3. A door retainer comprising oppositely disposed elastic blocks, a box Within the opposite end portions of which the said blocks are located and retained in spaced relation to each other, separate metal facing plates for the opposing faces of said blocks which plates are held in separated relation to each other to provide a space for a lug, the outer end portions of said plates being extended and located between the outer sides of the respective blocks and the adjoining portions of a side wall of said box, and the inner end portions of said plates extending outwardly and laterally underneath portions of the said blocks and then laterally in the opposite direction in parallel relation to the adjoining side of the said box and in overlapping relation to each other.

4. A door retainer comprising a box, elastic members located in said box, and interengaging facing plates for holding said members under compression and in spaced relation to each other.

5. A door retainer comprising a box having resilient blocks mounted therein, facing plates for the said blocks, the said plates having portions in engagement with each other and operating to hold the said blocks in spaced relation, the facing plate of each block being interlocked therewith.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 12th day of June, 1928.

JOSEPH J. SEITZ. 

